June 2012 Auction Ends Thursday, June 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/28/2012
Emotional and scarce autograph letter signed by the infamous bank robber John Dillinger, written in October 1933, less than two weeks before he escaped from prison in Lima, Ohio. He writes to Mary Longnaker, his girlfriend and the sister of his recently killed buddy Jim Jenkins. The robbers met while they were both incarcerated at the Michigan City penitentiary in Indiana in 1929, along with future members of their bank-robbing gang Harry Pierpont and Homer Van Meter. Dillinger and Longnaker met and started their courtship while Dillinger was released from prison in May of 1933. Five months later, the FBI's first official "Public Enemy #1" writes to her from prison following another arrest. He dates the letter 1 October 1933, and the postmarked envelope from Lima is stamped 2 October 1933. The touching text reads in full: "Dearest Mary, I just read in the paper of Jimmys death and I know you must be heartbroken. I feel for you dear for I know how much you cared for each other, and I can understand your grief because Jimmy was the only real friend and pal I had outside of my family and I loved him like a brother. Honey this old world has delt [sic] you some heavy blows. I wish I were free so I could take you away and make you happy but the least I can expect is ten years. Sweetheart if I had known two months ago that you would ever care enough about me to marry me I would have gotten a job somehow for I could enjoy working for a girl like you and having a home. Do you think I have enjoyed myself always on the go, no place I could call home. I expect you were surprised to hear I was sent to Lima weren't you? I wish you would send me the pictures we had taken at the worlds fair. I will always keep them in remembrance of you. Darling I won't write you any more, I want you to forget me for ten years or more is to long for any girl to wait, and as sweet as you are you will find the right man someday to make you happy. Dear I am heartbroken too about Jimmy for he was a wonderful fellow. Goodbye and the best of luck to you always. Love from Johnnie." Less than two weeks later, on 12 October, Dillinger's buddies broke him out of prison, and though he sought out Mary, she refused him due to his status as a fugitive. In less than a year, he'd be shot dead by federal police in a sting involving his new girlfriend. Letter runs 2pp. and measures 7.5" x 9.75". Toning and separation at fold lines. Very good condition. With JSA COA. Exceptionally scarce autograph letter signed by Dillinger; less than ten examples of just his signature are known to exist and this is the only letter we have encountered.
Astonishing John Dillinger Signed Love Letter -- ''...Sweetheart if I had known two months ago that you would ever care enough about me to marry me I would have gotten a job...'' -- With JSA COA
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